Rule #1: Don't fall in love

Part 1

Rule number 1 don't fall in love. This was the only rule Tamika can think of as she walks through the mall parkade, looking for her red Honda Civic. "Ugh this has been the most ridiculous day ever, so thankful it's finally over" she mumbles under her breath as she finally finds her parking spot. As she starts up her car Tamika gets a quick glance of herself in the rearview mirror, "could be better could be worse I guess." She looks at her large brown doe eyes, full lips and the wide nose that she wishes daily that she could change. Life as a half black half white woman in her tiny hick town is no easy feat and her love life or lack there of is testimony to this belief of hers.

While driving well over the speed down the freeway Tamika calls her mom through the hands free option on her car. "Hey ma, I have a little surprise for you wanna meet up for dinner?" "Hi chicken little, I thought we both agreed that you would be going on that date tonight with what's his face." Tamika inwardly laughs at the name her mom has come up with for Kaleb, the man that everyone thinks would be perfect for her. "Maaaaa I told you a million times I'm just not into him like that, I'm not into anyone right now. I'm perfectly content by myself, I have a great job, great family and great friends what more can I ask for?". "Tamika honey, it's time you find someone, I'm getting old, your friends are all settling down, it's time for you to do the same." "Buuuttt Maaaa come on you know I've never wanted that kind of thing, where someone has to know where you are all the time, someone else to take care of, it's just not me". "Well chicken little if you want to skip on this date for the 5th time count me out of being you accomplice. That boy has it bad for you I wish you would just give him a chance. Now I have to get going, love you kiddo" Love you too mom, bye". With that Tamika settles on grabbing some good old McDonalds and Netflixing on the couch for the night.

As she pulls into the parkade to her apartment Tamika can't help but think of what her mom said to her. It's true, all of her friends are either in long-term relationships or newly wed but look at what all of them put up with to get to that point. The nights she spent on the phone with a crying Tiff who couldn't cope with the fact that her husband forgot her birthday for the 7th year in a row. Or the time that she thought Cynthia was going to vomit up her own stomach after drinking too much because she found her then boyfriend getting a blowy from his secretary in the photocopying room. "Yup, not worth it" Tamika says to herself while getting out of her car. " Ain't that the truth" replies a husky voice to the left of her. Tamika looks up and sees a face that looks as if it was carved by the Gods themselves, sharp jaw, perfect nose, high cheek bones, perfect naturally arched eyebrows over large hooded green eyes. " Uhhhmmm pardon me?" "you said it's not worth it, I agree anything to get that kind of a look on your face really isn't worth it". Tamika grimaces, " first, that was a private conversation, second this is just how my face looks naturally. Who are you, why are you in my apartment complex? I pride myself on knowing all of my neighbours and you sir are not one of them" "For someone that's not interested in having a conversation with anyone but themselves you ask a lot of questions, the names Xavier, and you are?" Tamika can't help but stare in amazement at his beauty, he can't be explained as anything other than beautiful she thinks to herself. "I'm Tamika but you still didn't answer my questions as to what you are doing here" Xavier begins walking to the doors out of the underground parking he takes one last look at Tamika "Guess you'll have to find out next time, later Mika". Tamika is left there baffled, wondering how does he know the name only her brother calls her.

The rest of the night moves exactly as planned, what feels like hundreds of missed calls from Kaleb although there's maybe 8. Getting caught up on the newest Korean series, light browsing through social media and texts from Tiff and Cynthia wondering why they haven't received an update about her date with Kaleb. After replying to the tens of messages about her non existent love life Tamika decides to call it a night so she can hopefully wake up for that 5am jog that she's been telling herself she will do for the past 456 days. All snuggled into her onesie jammies she decides maybe today wasn't such a bad day after all, life is good when you refuse to love.